Consulting the elders (A Catwoman and Batman fanfiction)

They were both silent as he drove them to the Manor. It was a comfortable silence. The kind that comes from a place of security, from knowing that absence of verbal communication did not equate absence of a connection. That merely being in each other's proximity was sometimes sufficient. Selina allowed her neck length hair to blow in the wind. Bruce would sometimes steal glances of her beauty and her expression of contentment as she enjoyed the nice weather. A glow on her face and her bright green eyes taking in the sights of greenery and flowers.

The Bat and the Cat had decided to finally be honest about their feelings and had admitted to themselves and each other that they were in love. Over the last six months, their carnal attraction and mutual respect had evolved into a deep connection. One that made them see the other in a completely different light. Not through rose tinted glasses, but the clarity of vision that only comes with truly understanding the one you love and seeing all their strengths and weaknesses. They were still getting to know each other and peeling off the many layers that guarded their hearts and souls. On this day, Bruce intended to peel off another such layer.

They reached the Manor and Selina began walking to the front door. She couldn't wait to dig into whatever divine feast Alfred had cooked. She could still taste the Duck à L'Orange he had prepared the last time she visited. Her food fantasy was interrupted however, when Bruce began to gently guide her away from the front door.

"Um....where are we going?" She asked, wondering if he wanted to feast on her first. Not that she would mind.

"There's someone I want you to meet." Bruce replied, putting his arm around her waist.

There was a time when his vague replies would infuriate Selina. But now, she was willing to wait until he decided to tell her more. Another indication of the level of trust that had developed between them.

They walked together amidst the shrubbery and trees and arrived at a clearing. From a distance, Selina could see the gravestones. She knew now why Bruce had brought her there. He took her hand and began walking them to the graves of his parents, Martha and Thomas Wayne.

"I figured it was time I introduced you to my parents." Bruce said to her in an affectionate tone.

Selina however, grew a bit nervous. She stopped when they were about ten feet from the final resting place of her lover's family.

"What's the matter?" Bruce asked her.

"Um....are you sure about this?"

Bruce smiled at her gently, place a kissed on her forehead and ushered her towards his parents' final resting place. His huge presence and the warmth of his smile gave Selina the assurance she needed.

"Mother, Father.... I'd like to meet Selina Kyle. She's the love of my life."

Selina decided this would be the right moment to introduce herself.

"Hi Mr and Mrs Wayne, I'm Selina...."

Realising what she had said, she blushed before both she and Bruce shared a laugh.

Bruce found this moment to be rather wholesome. Selina Kyle had a seismic confidence and never goofed up. The fact that she did something silly when meeting his parents revealed her vulnerability. And only made it easier for Bruce to be vulnerable with her.

The couple just sat there for a while, and made small talk with Martha and Thomas.
Bruce was telling them all about how amazing Selina is. He explained every single detail of her redoubtable skill set to them. The languages she spoke, her knowledge of engineering and orientation, how good a hacker she was, how she was a master of disguise....etc etc etc. He went on and on and Selina was honestly in awe of how well he had studied her skill set.

She jokingly said to him "Darling, why do I get the feeling that you're showing me off?"

"I just want my parents to know how incredible you are." Bruce took her hand in his and kissed it gently, before continuing "I think my you and my mom would have been good friends. I've been told that she was.... kind of like you when she was younger. Rebellious, bit of a wild child and had a heart of gold. You know, she actually helped bring child abusers to justice."

"She did?" Selina asked, genuinely fascinated. The more she learned about Bruce's parents, particularly his mother, the more she wished she could have met them.

"Yes. I only found out about this recently. Apparently, she used an alias to ensure that her true identity was hidden. So there isn't a lot of "official" documentation of her work. I've been looking into it, but she covered her tracks pretty well." Bruce's voice was filled with pride and an almost child like excitement. In that moment, he was a young boy bragging about how cool his mom was.

"Hmmm.... like mother like son!" Selina playfully nudged Bruce. She knew how painful it was for him to talk about his parents. For once, the subject of them put a smile on his face. Selina was grateful for it. For the fact that he could still cherish memories of them that didn't include the heart wrenching guilt he felt over their deaths.

Selina Kyle had been crushing child predators longer than she had been Catwoman. How often she had pulled some sleaze ball off of a little boy or girl in a dark alley. How many bones she has broken, joints she had dislocated when her rage at the exploitation of innocent children boiled over.

However, it was one thing to simply track down child abusers and traffickers and let your fists and your whip do the talking. Actually helping the kids rebuild their lives and restoring their faith in adults was a different ball game altogether. One that Selina had begun to doubt if she even knew how to play. Sure, she could pay for their education, for their therapy sessions. She could build care homes that provided all kinds of amenities. But how was she to restore a childhood that had been stripped away with such hideous cruelty?

She had no template she could work off of. No one had ever done something like that for her. The world had discarded her and forgotten she existed. She was noticed only when started becoming an inconvenience. She knew how to take on the world, but had no idea how to heal a broken heart. She wanted to turn to someone. If not for advice, then perhaps only to unburden herself. She could go to Bruce, but he had his own share of troubles. For that same reason she didn't want to bother Leslie too much either.

So, she decided to pay a visit to her lover's parents.

"Hi Martha, Thomas. Lovely day, isn't it?"
Selina considered how inauthentic small talk sounded coming from her. It really wasn't her strong point.

"Oh fuck it! I'll cut to the chase. I'm sure Bruce told you all about what I'm doing.... trying to do in the East End. And I just...."

She took a moment to gather her thoughts, and continued. This time she addressed Bruce's mother "I'm trying to help them Martha. I'm trying to make sure they don't end up the way I did. I want them to have good, happy lives. I can provide them with material tools that would help them rise. But I have no idea how to tell a broken child that they can learn to trust again." Tears began to form in Selina's beautiful eyes.

"How do I make them believe in the so called goodness of the human race, when I'm not sure I believe in it myself?"

Selina Kyle did not find the solution to her troubles that day. There was no miracle that would give her all the answers, no otherworldly hand that would guide her towards enlightenment. She would work out the solutions to her problems by herself, through trial and error and her own wisdom.

What Selina did gain was a sense of comfort. Comfort in being able to confide in family. They may not be her own. But they were the ones that her soulmate idolized. Their wisdom and kindness lived on in Him. She had never had an equivalent in her life. Her own parents had disappointed her terribly. She found a sense of security in being able to come to the resting place of Martha and Thomas Wayne and just pouring her heart out.

The word "family" still felt alien to Selina Kyle. Even though she and Bruce had been committed to each other for about two years now, after having overcome over a decade of uncertainty, she still felt like she was venturing into uncharted territory when spending time with his family. Not that they didn't accept her as one of their own. Rather, Bruce's sons treated her like a mother figure. Both Dick and Jason respected her and made her feel loved. And of course, his second father Alfred Pennyworth had made her feel welcome in their home ever since the first time they met. Unfortunately, opening up emotionally to anyone seemed daunting to Selina.

And when the House of Wayne was dealt a horrendous blow in the form of young Jason's death, Selina was at sea as to how she could pick up the pieces of this family. She did all she could to become a source of assurance and strength. But while Alfred and Dick were receptive to her overtures, Bruce had retreated into his shell.

Selina had held him and let him cry his eyes out in her arms when she learned of Jason's demise. The strongest man she had ever known crumbled into pieces before her. Selina felt completely helpless, knowing she couldn't take his pain away.

Batman did find the strength to go on, but Bruce Wayne seemed to have lost himself. He was employing his usual tools of dealing with pain - shutting out the people closest to him. He was like a machine, pulling some goon off of a hapless victim and then putting the fear of God in him in a manner whose clinicality was both awe inspiring and disturbing.

At first, Selina gave him his space. She figured he would want to be alone. However, as the days grew into weeks, Bruce grew more and more withdrawn. He ignored Dick's phone calls, he wouldn't even speak to Alfred. When Selina tried to comfort him, he would make up some excuse or another and turn down her affection. So she once again found herself in the Wayne Family cemetery and seated before the graves of her lover's parents.

Through tears of pain and love she told them everything.

"He won't talk. He just won't talk. I know how much he's hurting but he doesn't share it with anyone. And I'm..... I'm just so scared for him. If he doesn't let it out, this pain will end him. It'll just.... somehow... end him."

Selina knew that the request she was about to make sounded ridiculous, but she made it anyway. After all, no one here would laugh at her words, however ridiculous they may be.

"If you could just somehow get him to talk. If you would convince him to open up to someone even a little bit, I think he might be saved. And it doesn't have to be me. It could be anyone, but please.... please just tell your son to share his grief."

Selina Kyle sat there and let her tears fall freely. There was no running from the pain. All she could hope for was to find hidden reserves of strength that would get her through this loss.

"I HAVE HAD IT UP TO HERE WITH YOUR SON!!" Said a very disgruntled Selina Kyle, holding her hand about a feet above her head.

Selina and Alfred were at their wits end, trying to get the man they both loved to take better care or himself. For three whole days in a row Bruce had barely slept, he ate only when Alfred threatened to quit.

Selina, Catwoman was well aware that the serial killer who haunted their city needed to be stopped. She had been working on the case with him. However, when she tried to explain to him that he would be of no use to Gotham if he killed himself, the only response she had recieved was a frustratingly monotone "hmmm".

No. Not entirely monotone. She could recognize the distinct tone of the "hmmm". It was distinct only to those few who truly knew the man. And it translated to "Yes, I hear you. Now leave me alone."

Selina shook her head and uttered "you ridiculous man!", before stomping off to the grounds.

Alfred Pennyworth knew by now exactly where she was headed. Being Bruce's second father and the closest thing Selina had to a father figure, he knew all of his children quite well. He had known for quite some time that Ms Kyle often spoke to Mr and Mrs Wayne, but felt no need to let her, or anyone know that he knew.

Over at the graves, Selina's rant continued.

"He just won't listen!! He thinks he's some kind of sage and knows better than anyone. Well, he's an idiot!!"

Selina was silent for a second. Then she started to laugh.

As a young woman, she feared nothing more than being tied down into a relationship. But now, here she was complaining about her lover's carelessnes about his health to his parents! How exactly did she get here?

In that moment, Selina missed Martha and Thomas more than ever. Was it possible to miss someone you had never met, she wondered. She reckoned it was.
You could miss what could have been.
You could miss the warmth and love that you knew once filled a home.
You could miss the ones whose influence and teachings had helped shape the person you loved more than all that was in the universe.

Selina smiled bittersweetly and blinked away the tears that were forming in her eyes.

"Don't worry guys. I'll make sure that stupid man eats and gets some sleep even if I have to tie him to the bed."

With a renewed determination, Selina headed back towards the manor. It was time to show Bruce Wayne who was boss.

"It's not going well. It seems as though all is well, but it isn't. Why do I get the feeling that this family is sitting on a ticking time bomb?"
Selina wore a grim expression as she told Martha and Thomas about the state of affairs involving Bruce and his youngest son, Damian.

Damian's arrival into the family had been controversial, to say the least. From the betrayal Bruce felt when found out that Talia had kept his child from him, to the obvious sense of insecurity the young boy felt which often presented itself in the form of hostility.

Damian had been cold to everyone. He was constantly at odds with his father. He was indifferent to Barbara and treated Dick and Tim with nothing but contempt. He was begrudgingly respectful to Alfred, probably because of the old man's propensity for shutting down any and all sorts of insolence.
And the boy appeared to despise Selina.

Selina understood why. She knew it was difficult for a child of his age to see his father with a woman who was not his mother. However, understanding his behaviour didn't make it hurt less. Selina told herself over and over again that the little brat's behaviour didn't affect her. However, in her heart of hearts she knew that wasn't true. She didn't expect Damian to love her, nor did she harbour any desire to mother him.
But still....

"I don't want Damian to resent me. I don't want any conflict with any of Bruce's kids." She admitted out loud for the first time, in a place where no human being of this world could hear her.

"That kid has so much potential. Bruce worries that he might take after Talia, but if you ask me, he has so much of Bruce in him." Selina said with a small smile on her lips. "And to be honest, I see a lot of myself in him too. The ability to get under his dad's skin is definitely something we have in common."

Damian's attitude towards everyone in general and Selina in particular remained unchanged for some time. He would go out of his way to be rude to her, tell her she was just a criminal and that his father still loved his mother. She knew he was only trying to get a reaction out of her and either didn't respond or just laughed it off. This seemed to annoy Damian even more and Selina would be lying if she said his annoyance wasn't cute and funny. She imagined this was what a little Bruce looked like when he didn't get what he wanted. At least before.....

Then came the fateful night when Deadshot was sent to assassinate Bruce Wayne. Selina had pushed him out of the way, taking the bullet in her shoulder. Bruce and Alfred fussed over her while Dick, Jason and Kate went after Deadshot.

Later on, Damian came to Selina to ask if she was ok. She assured him that she was. He hesitated before asking her why she took that bullet. "Because I love your father Damian." she replied matter of factly. Damian awkwardly wished her a speedy recovery and left.

Following that night, things began to change for the better. Damian and Selina grew close, mostly due to their shared love for animals. Damian even formed something resembling a friendship with Dick, Tim and Barbara. He and Bruce formed a bond.

As one would expect to happen in the Bat Family, just as thing had begun to settle another storm had started brewing. Jason was now spending more and more time in Gotham. Not only did he and Damian not get along, they seemed to be having some kind of a competition over who could push the other's buttons more.

Selina found more material to rant about to Bruce's parents. Especially since that very morning, Jason had made a snarky comment about Damian's posture during training. What followed was a sword fight, which Selina had to break up by whipping the swords out of the boys' hands.

"I don't know what I'm going to do about these boys!" Said a very crestfallen Selina Kyle.

Giving up her daughter, Helena for adoption was the hardest thing Selina had ever done. Though it was her decision and she had done it keeping her child's interest in mind, it didn't mean that a part of her heart hadn't left with her little girl. Even eleven years later, her soul still wept. However, every time regret caught hold of her, Selina told herself that her daughter was safe and happy and that giving her up had been the right thing to do.

When Catwoman had found out that the daughter she gave up all those years ago was being raised, not in a happy home, but by the Bana Amazons, the rage she felt was seismic to say the least. Even Batman had never seen her like this. Getting her daughter back had revealed a conspiracy, the roots of which went through the Bana Amazons and straight to the Court of Owls. The organisation had manipulated both Catwoman and Batman into thinking that the child's father was Sam Bradley's. The truth was that Helena was the child of the Cat and the Bat. It turned out that they wanted to create an army of exceptional soldiers. For this they took the children of exceptional parents and recruited the Bana Amazons to train them. "Acquiring" Helena had been a high priority task, given her parentage. The fact that the Bana already had a grudge against Catwoman didn't hurt either.

The battle to get THEIR daughter home was only the first challenge in the long battle that lay before Bruce and Selina.

When they got back, he had asked her point blank if she knew Helena was his daughter and had hidden the truth from him. Selina had looked him in the eye and said an emphatic "No". Her stern expression failed to hide the pain she felt at being accused of something like this. Bruce saw it and apologised.

Selina put her arms around him, silently accepting his apology. Both of them knew that they needed to gather themselves, their strengths and become the strong foundation their daughter needed. The other family members would help but they needed to do most of the work themselves.

Helena Kyle Wayne was a quiet girl. She seemed fascinated by the world around her. She had an innocent and pure fascination that was the result of being kept away from the world and all it's beauty and ugliness. Though she hadn't been abused physically, the Court of Owls and the Bana Amazons did keep her and the other children from knowing any semblance of normalcy. Which was but a different kind of abuse. The twelve year old Helena seemed fragile. But that was until one saw her in combat. The Bana had taught her well. Cassandra Cain herself was impressed and offered to help sharpen her skills. Both Bruce and Selina were grateful for this.

They knew their family would give Helena all the love and support in the world. Dick was her sweet older brother who made her laugh. Jason was the cool older brother who taught her cuss words (much to her parents' chagrin). Tim was the brother who introduced her to video games. Stephanie introduced her to fashion, while Cassandra was eager to teach her all that she knew about martial arts. Alfred was the doting grandfather who introduced her to various kinds of foods. Her face would express a different breed of wonderment with each new flavour she experienced for the first time. Her aunts Holly, Karon was Maggie too wanted to make up for lost time and spoke to her nearly every single day.

What surprised Selina and Bruce was how kind and considerate Damian had been to Helena. He was her friend, her guide to help her understand social customs and cues and the philosopher who explained the mysteries of social media to her. Selina's love for the boy had grown a million times when she saw the way he interacted with her daughter. In the three weeks that she had been back, Damian had been her best friend.

Helena was slowly, but steadily settling in. It was her mother however, who seemed to be the one who needed the most help. Ever since her daughter's return, Selina had been overwhelmed with feelings of inadequacy, anger and most of all, guilt. She forgot sleep and food and cursed herself every single day and night for letting Helena go. Why didn't she do more as a mother? Why couldn't she step up and protect her better? Even Bruce's reassurances were of little help.

Selina went to his parents' graves again to tell them how she had failed as a mother. She felt that she deserved their judgement.

"I failed her" Selina said, feeling as though her guilt would bury her alive. "All I wanted was for my little girl to have a happy life, filled with love and laughter. I lost my childhood, and I didn't want her to lose hers. But that's exactly what happened. I gave her to monsters in my foolish attempt to keep her away from monsters who would come after me!" Selina's fist connected with the hard concrete ground. The skin over her knuckles broke and blood oozed out.
Selina wept out of anger and sheer helplessness.

She was about to get up when she felt a familiar touch on her shoulders. It was Bruce. He wiped her tears off and held her close.

"Bruce I....." Selina's words faltered and her gaze couldn't meet his. She was convinced that not only had she let down her child, but her father too. If she hadn't allowed herself to be fooled by the Court, she could have raised Helena with Bruce. Both father and daughter had been robbed of what could have been eleven wonderful years.

"Selina, stop. Stop punishing yourself. None of this is your fault. And if you really are at fault, then so am I. Neither of us could see the sick games the Court played with us."
Bruce sat down beside her and in front of his parents. "But now that Helena is finally back in our lives, we both need to be strong for her. Selina, you've been so consumed with your guilt, that you've been distant from our daughter."

"Bruce I'm.... I'm just so ashamed.... I don't know if I can face her. What if she resents me...." Selina began to weep.

"She won't, Selina. I don't think you realize how much she admires you already. Spend time with her. Make up for all the time you've lost. She will have a lot of questions, no doubt. But she has both of her parents to answer them. But Selina, you must first forgive yourself."

Bruce's loving words seemed to have jolted Selina out of a fog. She wiped her tears off and holding his hand headed back towards the house. Her daughter needed her.

Julie Bicondova was an investigative journalist. She had been looking into the disappearances of undocumented immigrants from Gotham and surrounding areas. Something that had caught the attention of Catwoman herself. The vigilante found out about the journalist's quest and paid her a visit. The two decided they would help each other. Julie's digging unearthed an organ trading cartel that would kidnap people off the streets, cut out whatever organs that could be sold and burned what remained of the victims in incinerators. They targeted undocumented immigrants because, well, they were undocumented. The corrupt police was of little help as some very powerful people were involved.

So, Miss Bicondova contacted Catwoman and gave her names of all those pulling the strings of the operations. Catwoman did what she does best. She eviscerated the operations and rendered it and those running it penniless. The victims who were still alive were rescued. However the story itself was brushed under the carpet, mainly because of how deep it's roots went into America's political elite. No publication or news outlet would dare to talk about it.

Unfortunately, Julie Bicondova's name did reach some of those political elite and they decided she was too dangerous to be left alive. They couldn't touch the Catwoman, but they could certainly eliminate a civilian who dared to challenge their power.

Selina recieved a call from a terrified Julie while having dinner with Maggie. The journalist spoke in a whisper and told her someone was in her apartment.

Catwoman raced against time itself, hoping to make it to save Julie. But she was too late. All she found was the brave woman's body in a pool of her own blood. Selina couldn't waste any time. She knew that Julie had a child, a four year girl named May.

Thankfully, little May hadn't seen or heard much of what was done to her mother. Julie had wisely locked her in the bedroom closet and then locked the bedroom door.
Julie had no family and her little girl would likely end up in the system. Selina didn't want that for her. The adoption and foster care system of Gotham had improved quite a lot over the years. But Selina still didn't want to hand May over to it. She couldn't save her ally, the least she could do was take care of her child.

And so, Bruce and Selina decided to adopt May and raise her as their own. They could scarcely conceal their joy the day their new daughter was finally brought home. As expected, the family showered her with love and affection. Damian and Helena were especially concerned about her. However, May sometimes had nightmares. Her tender young mind was still processing the loss of her mother.

Selina's heart bled everytime her little girl woke up crying in the middle of the night. Bruce assured her that with continued therapy and their support, she'd be able to overcome her trauma. But Selina still worried.

One night, after putting May to bed, Selina told Bruce she was going for a walk. She figured now was a good time to talk to Martha and Thomas and give them an update about their youngest grandchild. However, as she approached the graves a familiar voice stopped her in her tracks. Two voices actually. Helena and May were sitting in front of their grandparents' resting place. Selina was honestly surprised and impressed by the fact that Helena had managed to sneak May out unnoticed. She hid in the shadows and listened as Helena told grandma and grandpa all about her sister's troubles.

"May has these bad dreams grandma. And they scare her a lot. She wants to be brave and fight them, but she can really use some help. So, if you and grandpa could just pull some strings and make the bad dreams go away May would really appreciate that. Right, May?"

The thirteen year old Helena was obviously humouring her little sister, but the sheer thoughtfulness of her actions touched Selina's heart. She decided not to interrupt their consultation and waited for them to finish so she could escort them back to the Manor.

May nodded in response to her big sister. Then she said in her sweet, child like voice "thank you gramma and grappa". The whole time Helena kept her arm proactively wrapped around her. It reminded Selina of herself and Maggie as children. Granted, the dangers from which she had had to protect her little sister were much more dire.

She wanted to order her daughters never to come out here alone at night. But any reprimand could wait until the next day. At the moment Selina Kyle was busy holding back her tears, overwhelmed by the beauty and sheer innocence of the scene before her. How on Earth had her crazy life turned so beautiful?

Alfred Pennyworth left this realm of existence at the age of 92. Right until his last day, the old man had been sharp as a whip. His wit remained acidic, his humour retained it's tendency to take you by surprise. He had lived a long and healthy life. So as his loved ones bid farewell to him, there wasn't the usual gloom and sadness that's usually associated with a death in the family.

Bruce and Selina hosted their family and friends in the Manor and when all was said and done, they decided to walk to the family cemetery together. There, besides Bruce's mother and father, was his second father in his last repose.

"How're you doing Alfred?" Bruce asked, his right hand holding Selina's left.

"Don't worry. Tim and I didn't destroy the kitchen cooking for everyone." Selina assured the man who had been no less than a father to her.

"Are you sure about that? Bruce asked her, remembering the war torn kitchen he had to clean up.

"Are we going to play this game now?" Selina playfully punched his shoulder. Even in their 60s the Bat and the Cat loved their games.

"It's only fair!" Bruce shot back, "you've been ratting me out to my parents for decades."

Selina responded by snuggling closer to him. "I miss him." She said solemnly.

"I do too." Bruce ran his fingers through her hair. They stood there, just listening to the rustling of the leaves.

"He loved you." Bruce broke the silence.
"From the day I first brought you home, he loved you. You were always family to him."

Bruce wasn't telling Selina anything she didn't already know. She had always felt Alfred's warmth.

They sat there in comfortable silence. Their journey together had not been easy. The years had tested them in so many ways - as individuals, as a couple and as a family. But they had made it. They had faught for their happiness and conquered it. The Cat and the Bat had won, with the support of all those who loved them. Those who were still with them, as well as those who were gone.